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The Acura TLX A-Spec was the sleeper hit of 2017 for us, and it's the driving experience that won us over.

But before we go any further, I would like to clear up any misconception that the A-Spec is a track-focused road rocket like the BMW M3 or a muscle-bound four-door beast like the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400. It just isn't.

The 290 horsepower under the hood is solid, but not spectacular. While its 0-60 mph time of around 6.0 seconds is quick, it's nothing to write home about.

So why do we like it so much?

The TLX A-Spec is just plain fun to drive.

The steering is well weighted, providing good feedback, while the suspension tuning feels sporty without being so stiff that it'll shake fillings loose on rough roads. Its torque vectoring technology sends power to the wheel that can make the best use of it. As a result, the TLX feels confident and unperturbed in corners.

And then there's the engine. It's not overly powerful, but it has enough juice to make things interesting.

"I thought I had more than 300 horses the entire time, testament to how that V6 in combination with a 9-speed automatic does a passable imitation of a small V8," my colleague Matt DeBord wrote in his review of the car.

To top it all off, the exhaust system delivers a wonderfully delightful rumble when you floor the gas pedal.

Put it all together and you get a car that's greater than the sum of its parts. A sports sedan punches above its weight.